Netsafe’s Cyberbullying Prevention Toolkit gives teachers ready-to-use, research-informed resources for Years 5-13 to prevent and respond to online bullying. Developed with input from educators and young people, it helps schools move from awareness to action - strengthening wellbeing, empathy, and digital citizenship.
The Cyberbullying Prevention Toolkit is a complete collection of classroom resources to help schools take a proactive, strengths-based approach to online wellbeing. Developed in response to teacher research showing cyberbullying remains one of the most common and challenging issues in schools, these resources are grounded in best practice, international research, student voice, and Netsafe expertise.
Every activity is interactive, curriculum-linked, and tested with New Zealand teachers and students to make sure it feels real, relevant, and adaptable for any classroom. Students explore what cyberbullying looks like, how to respond safely, and how to lead positive change online. From practical scenarios to student-led projects, the Toolkit helps turn awareness into real impact.
These resources for Years 5-13 are designed with a progressive pathway that builds on students’ understanding as they mature, building on foundations introduced in Hectors World™. Concepts grow in depth, from recognising harm and empathy-building in the early years to student-led action and leadership in the later stages.
Teachers don’t need to be online safety experts - the toolkit includes step-by-step lesson plans, slides, and student reflection tools that make it easy to facilitate important conversations with confidence.
Your starting point to prepare with confidence.
Your step-by-step session roadmap.
Visuals and activities engage your ākonga.
Spark students to take action and shape a kinder, safer school culture.
Once your class has explored the core sessions, the Student Spark Kits provide the next step - helping students turn their ideas into action and make a real difference in their school community. These action toolkits (not lesson plans) include quick starters, templates, and example projects, with two versions available - Years 5-8 and Years 9-13.
Check out our top tips for facilitating these Cyberbullying Prevention Resources to guide exploration and discussion.
Developed with input from educators and young people, and grounded in local and international best practice, the Toolkit is flexible to fit the needs of your school. The sessions are designed to be easy for teachers to pick up and facilitate easily.
Save planning time with ready-to-go resources.
Strengthens student voice, empathy, and agency.
Sessions are aligned to the NZ Curriculum and support key competencies.
Stand-alone lessons, multi-session or extended project delivery.
These copy-and-paste whānau articles are designed for schools using toolkit sessions following a series of cyberbullying incidents.
Each article includes a session summary, key messages, and whānau conversation-starters to extend the learning at home. Invite your community to play an active role in building a safer digital culture.
Explore the sessions available for your class and plan your school-wide approach to cyberbullying prevention.
For a deeper dive into the details of how to use the toolkit, check out our frequently asked questions.
The Cyberbullying Prevention Resources align with the New Zealand Curriculum, particularly within Health and Physical Education, Social Sciences, and Digital Technologies. Sessions support key competencies including managing self, relating to others, and participating and contributing.
Learning outcomes focus on:
Teachers don't need to be an expert on cyberbullying - all the information you'll need is provided through the toolkit. Teachers act instead as facilitators when delivering the sessions to create a safe, supportive space where students can explore ideas, share experiences, and reflect together.
It's worth spending a few minutes to familiarise yourself with how the resources are organised. The Facilitator Guide, Activity Plans, and classroom materials are designed to work together to make facilitation easy, adaptable, and impactful.
The Cyberbullying Prevention Resources and Student Spark Kits are designed as a starting point. There are many practical ways school can extend the learning, strengthen culture, and sustain impact beyond individual sessions.
Use these ideas to build visibility, align policies and wellbeing initiatives, and create a consistent message across your whole school community.
1. Embed learning across the year
2. Strengthen school systems and policy
3. Partner with whānau and community
4. Celebrate and sustain
5. Keep connecting with Netsafe
The Cyberbullying Prevention Resources draw on the expertise and collaborative work of educators, youth advocates, and researchers committed to creating safer, more empowering digital spaces for young people. Netsafe acknowledges and thanks the following contributors whose research, practice, and resources have informed this collection:
Sticks ‘n Stones
Originally founded as a youth-led organisation focused on kindness, respect, and positive online culture, Sticks ’n Stones became part of Netsafe in 2025. The acquisition of Sticks 'n Stones has enabled Netsafe to embed practical frameworks for peer support, empathy-building, and action-based learning within many of the strategies used throughout this collection.
FUSE
FUSE(https://antibullyingcentre.ie/fuse/) is a research-based anti-bullying and online safety programme developed by the DCU Anti-Bullying Centre (Ireland). It provides evidence-informed classroom lessons and whole-school resources for primary and post-primary settings. FUSE empowers students to recognise bullying behaviours, understand online risks, and confidently seek help, emphasising collaboration across the school community and alignment with international best practice. Thanks to a UNESCO Study Tour in 2025, Netsafe was able to visit the team behind FUSE and leverage insights, learnings and materials from this world-class programme.
Together, these organisations have contributed to a strengths-based, student-centred approach that moves beyond awareness to action - helping schools build cultures of respect, empathy, and digital wellbeing.